Posted by: Emily
Ever since we decided to clean up our product acts, I have been searching for a replacement for my Clean and Clear Oil-Free Dual Action Moisturizer. It’s the one drugstore product I’ve used for decades (practically literally!) and couldn’t imagine giving up. It is a light, daily moisturizer but with 0.5% Salicylic Acid in it, which is my favorite acne treatment ingredient. I detest Benzoyl Peroxide (it bleaches my linens, smells bad, and is way too harsh on my skin) and have tried prescription creams with Retinol and all kinds of other miracle-promising-but-ultimately-disappointing chemicals, none of which have ever worked as well as good old Salicylic Acid.
Much to my pleasure, turns out Salicylic Acid is a naturally found ingredient. It comes from Willow Bark! (Note of caution, this doesn’t mean it’s always natural when you find it in other, more chemical-heavy products, but it CAN be found in nature).
I read about Burt’s Bees’ new Natural Acne Solutions line in a magazine a while ago, and while I’ve always been a fan of their chapsticks (who isn’t?) I previously hadn’t tried any of their other products. When I went to the drugstore to look at the Natural Acne Solutions line, I was at first discouraged, because they only had one of the 4 products and at first glance, I didn’t think it had enough of my beloved Salicylic Acid to be a good exchange for my Clean and Clear.
Recently, my local health food store, Gary Null’s Uptown Whole Foods (love them!) started carrying the Acne line, and I took a look at the Daily Moisturizing Lotion. To my delight, it has 1% Salicylic Acid– that’s twice as much as my Clean and Clear! Hooray!
I have good and bad news about this product. The Bad News: it’s not that moisturizing. However, I have been using it in conjunction with other products (trying it with various serums and moisturizers for extra winter weather moisture) and it works perfectly well in tandem. I’m okay with this solution, though it makes it more pricey than using one product at a time for both acne treatment and moisturizing, but that’ a lot to ask, so I understand. It’s also 4 times as expensive (list price $17.99 for 2 oz.) as the Clean and Clear lotion (list price $6.49 for 4 oz.), but that’s the cost of natural products, my friends. I think I can live with that.
The good news is that I think it works. It’s always hard to say, since acne is a complicated little problem– it’s hard to tell what’s hormonally caused and what’s aided by any product– but I know Salicylic Acid works for me in general, and this is the first good natural option I’ve found.
Next I want to try the Targeted Spot Treatment to replace the Clean and Clear spot treatment I’ve been using, though it has less Salicylic Acid. However, it also has Tea Tree Oil, another one of my favorite skin-clearing ingredients, so together, they might be better than just more Salicylic Acid volume alone!
You can find all the Burt’s Bees products on Amazon.com for less, it looks like, especially when you buy them all together. I recommend that!
And there’s a promotion on the Burt’s Bees site where you buy the whole set and get the Spot Treatment for free (a $10 value): http://www.burtsbees.com/a/promo-buy3.html
Product Junkies Rehab 
hmmm, interesting. the only thing that keeps me from breaking out is neutrogena’s acne wash; everything else “natural” i’ve tried hasn’t been too good. keep us updated!
Now that I’m well in the 4th decade of my life, my skin type has changed from excessively oily to combination normal-to-oily. I find that I need moisture without pore-clogging oils and heavy creams. Made from Earth’s Rosehip Hibiscus Face Serum is the perfect product for providing age-defying moisture and antioxidants without a heavy cream or hefty price tag. This is one of my favorite facial moisturizers.
After washing my face with a gentle pH balanced, soap-free cleanser like the Green Tea Toxin Cleanser (also from Made from Earth), I let my face air dry prior to applying the serum in small dabs under my eyes and face.
People try to guess my age, and they are usually ten years off! Go me!!
I too have not had much luck with natural products. Try this product:deMistify. It is a spray and is the best product on the market! All natural product and is fabulous.
I have acne prone skin and I was nervous about using a new moisturizer, but quickly found that my skin actually CLEARED UP while using the Lady Soma Renewal Serum. Totally cleared up – and smoothed out any redness! Likely, it was due to my regimented focus on skin care in general, but this did NOT contribute to any breakouts at all.
After one month of daily use, here is my verdict: Lady Soma Serum works. It’s not magic, it’s not a miracle, it doesn’t transform every wrinkle and age spot. But it makes your skin look BETTER than before, which is all we can really hope for, isn’t it?
I’ve noticed a somewhat dramatic change in the fine lines around my eyes (no, I don’t use a separate eye cream). They are smoother and much less noticeable. The few age spots I’ve developed seem to be lighter. Overall, looking at my face in the mirror now, I sometimes have to do a double-take because my skin looks so much better and brighter. The permanent dark circles under my eyes are even lighter.
If anyone is looking for other solution herbal and tea remedies are very popular, especially Green tea.
My acne-prone areas are my shoulders and chest – and the only thing that works is washing them daily in the shower with the Citrus Clear Face Wash. Since I have been using it – no shoulder or chest acne.